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Series of stabbings near Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic areas has city on edge

A man places a flower at the memorial for a cyclist who was stabbed to death in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Mayor Eduardo Paes has expressed confidence in the security arrangements for next year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo

RIO DE JANEIRO – Police in Rio de Janeiro are reinforcing patrols in areas popular with tourists and near venues that will host Olympic events next year after a series of knife attacks on locals and foreigners.

The stabbings sparked calls for protest marches this weekend to demand better security.

The latest attack came Friday when a Chilean living in Rio was stabbed and her tablet computer stolen in a park adjacent to an area where Olympic cycling events will take place.

Earlier this week a Brazilian man died after he was stabbed by adolescents who stole his bike at a lake that will host Olympic events.

It was the fourth such stabbing at the lake in recent weeks, and there have been over 10 other stabbings during muggings in central Rio in that time.

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